Renewed (Awakened #2) (11 page)

“What are you scared about?”

He took a deep, calming breath, then slowly turned his gaze back towards me. “You know I love you, right?” he asked as I nodded my head yes. “You know that I would do anything for you, right? Anything to protect you, protect our baby.” He rubbed my tummy.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“I get so scared that one day I’ll come home from work…come home from a business trip…shit, even come home from running errands, and you’ll be…well, you’ll be gone.” He lowered his head.

I swung one leg over his waist and straddled him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and snaking my hands up the back of his head.
Be strong for him. Show him.

“Stefan, I’m here. Right here.” He wrapped his arms around my lower back and pulled me into him. “I’m scared too, but I’m more scared of what my life will be like with you nowhere in sight…nowhere in my life. I can’t imagine that. I can’t possibly live my life without you. No matter how scared I get about marriage, about being a mom, I’m more scared of my life without you.” I leaned in and planted a light kiss on his lips.

I loved my controlling, dominant Stefan, but I treasured this fragile Stefan.

“I don’t know what I would ever do without you. I’m pretty sure my life would be meaningless without you in it. You are everything I’ve ever waited for, everything I’ve dreamed about. I felt like I was going through life in a fog, but then I laid eyes on you and I took my real first breath. I could see clearer. It’s always been you, Jennifer, and it will always be you.” He slipped his finger under my chin and pulled my lips into his...merging them...owning them.

I loved this man…I loved him more than I could ever possibly love anyone. I could never leave him. I could never be without him in my life.

“I love you forever and seven days,” I whispered into his mouth.

“I love you forever and eight days.”

I pulled my head back and looked at him. “Why do you always say you love me one more day then whatever I say?”

 
“Because I could never live a day without you, so I will always love you one day more then you love me. Therefore, I never have to know the feeling of not loving you.”

Just like that, he stole every inch and every beat of my heart. I no longer belonged to myself, no longer owned my body, mind, and spirit. Stefan did. Stefan owned me, possessed me,
loved
me. How did I deserve this man? I really needed to thank my lucky stars.

My heart ached as I listened to his words float so effortlessly off his tongue. He meant every word he said with every beating of his heart. I knew it.
I felt it.

Stefan leaned his forehead on mine and together we took a deep, soothing breath. We sat like that for a couple of minutes before I heard a banging on the front door.

Ah, Kennedy has been holding out…there she is! I’m surprised she wasn’t here earlier
.

I laughed as I peeled myself off my man and stood to my feet. I slipped on my flats as Stefan stood and rolled down his pants.

He picked me up by my waist and twirled me around. “I love your dress,” he said as he sat me back down on my feet. He leaned down, our lips only inches from each other.

Bang, Bang!

“You love me?” he whispered.

Bang, Bang!

“Open the door, or I’m smashing it down!” Kennedy yelled from the other side of the door.

“To the moon and back,” I whispered, ignoring Kennedy.

Bang, Bang!

“Here I come! Put your clothes on!”

Bang, Bang!

“We better let her in before she breaks the fucking door,” Stefan said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the back door.

Bang, Bang!

“Seriously, you guys can fuck anytime you want! Let’s go eat! You have to let her out, Stefan!”

Oh dear God…fucking crazy best friend!

Stefan swung the door open to Kennedy standing in front of the door with
a
innocent smile on her face. Ayden was up the walkway towards the beach area. He was probably embarrassed.
I would be too.

“Good God, woman! You’ve got a fucking filthy mouth…and manners! Come on,” Stefan said, backing away and walking back into the living room to grab his shoes.

“We were supposed to go eat lunch, like, an hour ago!” Kennedy said as I looked around the living room for a clock. I had no idea what time it was. It felt like it should be late at night, but I knew that was jet lag.

“Stop complaining,” I said to her, crossing my arms over my chest.

“And just to let you know, not only
can
I, but I
plan
on keeping my woman locked up in here after our wedding…tomorrow. So be prepared.” He winked at Kennedy as he stood to his feet and walked past her towards the front door.

“Oh heavens. I didn’t need to know that, freak!” Kennedy walked towards Stefan who was already out the front door.

“Get your ass out here!” Kennedy hollered at me. I picked my jaw up off the floor and started towards her. I closed the door behind me and made my way to the waiting black SUV at the end of the walkway.

Ayden and Stefan sat in the back seat, chatting about guy stuff while Kennedy and I sat in the row in front of them and chatted about the ocean and the fact that I was getting married tomorrow.

It still really hadn’t sunken in…I wouldn’t be a White tomorrow. Well, technically I was already a Long since I’d signed our marriage certificate, but tomorrow would make it official in my head, and that scared me.

I listened to Kennedy go on and on about shopping and my wedding while I silently thought about everything. Before I knew it, we’d pulled up to the restaurant. We got out and walked up to a small restaurant for lunch.

We sat down at a small table outside, so we could watch the sailboats on the ocean in the horizon. Stefan put his hand on the inside of my thigh, squeezing me. I placed my hand over his as we began ordering our food.

“I never want to leave here,” Kennedy told Ayden as he put his arm over the back of her chair.

“Babe, we can stay out here forever,” Ayden agreed with a smile.

“Uh, so what’s holding us in Oklahoma?” Kennedy asked.

Bitch!
“Uh, forgetting something?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah…there is something, well someone, holding us in Oklahoma.” She winked at me as she took a sip of her
Pina
Colada.

We made light conversation as we waited for our food, but once it arrived we were all so hungry that we barely spoke to each other.

We left Stefan and Ayden to argue over who would take care of the bill while Kennedy and I made our way to the ladies room.

“Is Stefan really going to keep you locked up after tomorrow?” Kennedy asked as we separated into our private stalls.

“Wouldn’t put it past him…” I replied.

“That means I can stay in with Ayden.” She giggled.

“You horn dog.”

“You have no idea. Sex with Ayden’s is…” She let out a deep breath. “It’s pretty amazing.”

We walked out of the stalls towards the sink.

“I can imagine…sex with Stefan is mind blowing.”

“I wouldn’t ever leave our bedroom…or living room…or back porch…” Kennedy started laughing as we washed our hands.

“Good to know.”
She was insane.

“Let’s go get our sex machines.” She opened the door and walking back towards our men waiting so patient for us.

“Do you trust me?” Stefan asked me as he grabbed my hand.

“Yes.” My voice was shaky.

“Then get your ass in here!” Kennedy yelled from the ocean. I looked over into the shallow water to find Kennedy and Ayden standing close together, feeding the sharks and stingrays.

“Stefan, I can’t.” I was scared shitless…
shitless
.

“Yes you can, baby. You’ll be fine.”

“Come in here on your own, or I’ll drag you in,” Kennedy warned as she started giggling and petting a stingray.

I took a deep breath and let Stefan lead me into the water. He held my hand as I walked away from the small boat toward Kennedy.

“The sharks will mostly circle us, babe, and the stingray are nice. You can pet them.” He showed me as one swam by us and I sucked in a breath, trying not to scream as it grazed against my tummy.

Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out.

Our guide stood at the end of the boat throwing raw fish into the ocean for the sharks to munch on. The sharks would get close enough to get the fish, then immediately backed away,
ut
the stingrays wanted to be touched and continued to play around us.

I felt myself starting to relax as I marveled at the beautiful sea creatures. They really were mesmerizing. I placed my hand in the water and watched the stingrays continually swim by me, grazing their body against my hands each time.

This is so cool!

After a couple of hours in the water, we loaded back up into the boat and headed towards the island. I would never forget that— it was one of the coolest things I’d ever done.